Moistening device



ZAZQSEQ Aug. 16, 1938. J. M. HEUER MOISTENING DEVICE Filed June 19; 1933 3mm H205 Patented Aug. 16, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

My present invention in its broad aspect has reference toimprovements in moistening devices for incubators and the like, and more especially my moistener is designed for use with large sized incubators having relatively great capacity, and to that end I provide improved means for obtaining most desirable conditions of circulation and moistening of air. Furthermore it is my purpose to attain these ends in the simplest and most effective manner, and at the same time attain the functions sought.

My moistening device generally speaking includes a moisture supply tank, a connection to the moisture disc and means whereby moisture is supplied to the disc. The disc itself is of wire and fabric formation and designed to take up the moisture supplied to it and be saturated so that air coming into contact therewith will be properly moistened. The disc is simple in construction; easily cleaned, and the manner of supplying moisture thereto has no fragile parts which are liable to get out of order, and all parts are readily set up and taken down so that the device can be kept in perfect order at all times.

In addition to the above outlined purposes of my invention, others will be apparent as the detailed description proceeds, and in that connection attention is called to the fact that interpretation of the scope of my invention should only be conclusive when made in the light of the subjoined claims.

In the drawing; the figure is a vertical section through my device and shows its various parts.

In the drawing like characters of reference are used to designate like or similar parts.

The numeral (4) designates the side wall of any type of incubator or the like and which may be provided withan air intake opening or the like (4a). A hollow shaft (28) passes through the wall (4) and has mounted on its inner end a hub (31) which is annularly flanged at the end thereof facing the wall, and screwthreaded at its opposite end. Registering openings (38) pass through the hub and shaft. The moisture disc has on one side a fabric or burlap absorbent body (35) extending from the hub (31) to the periphery of the disc, and which is supported on its back side by a reticulated wire screening member (36) so that the disc has two components a screen frame or body and a fabric overlay or face, all mounted on the hub so that water enters directly to the fabric through openings (38). A suitable hub cap engages the screw thread end of the hub to keep the disc assembly thereon. In operation the disc is used preferably with the type of incubator shown and described in applicants copending application Serial #561781, filed December 30, 1935. The shaft (28) has mounted thereon a pulley which is designed to be connected with a suitable source of power (not shown) to rotate the shaft and the disc thereby to facilitate its operation. A suitable moisture supply tank (40) is provided and has a pipe connection (400.) to the interior of shaft (28) so that water flows from tank (40) to shaft (28) and thence to the disc. A suitable overflow or drip pan (33) with a suitable outlet is provided to take care of any excess moisture from the disc. In operation the rotation of the disc tends to distribute moisture entirely through the fabric so that the maximum efiiciency is 010- 2 tained.

While in the foregoing it is believed that the operation and advantages of my invention will be apparent attention is again called to the fact that interpretation of the invention should only be made in connection with the appended claims.

I claim:-

1. An air-moistening means comprising a hollow drive shaft, a hub on the drive shaft formed with perforations communicating with the interior thereof, a wire screen member on the hub having a disc-like formation and extending about the hub and outwardly therefrom, a fabric member secured on the hub and to the wire screen member and of approximately the same shape as the wire screen member and designed to receive moisture through the perforations in the hub from the hollow drive shaft, and means for actuating the drive shaft to rotate the hub, screen and fabric assembly.

2. An air-moistening means comprising a disc-like member comprising a reticulated supporting part having an annular conformation, a fabric body attached to one side of the reticulated supporting part, and means supporting said supporting part and fabric body and having openings therein communicating with a source of fluid supply whereby said fabric part is kept in a moisture saturated condition.

. JOHN MERLIN HEUER. 

